When it comes to home flooring,. Most people consider hardwood to be the king of flooring. However, an option that is growing ever stronger is bamboo flooring. This type of flooring is often referred to as hardwood, but comes from the bamboo plant instead. Bamboo flooring has only been around for about 20 years. While it may look like hardwood, there’s many differences, which catches people off guard. There’s no need to feel confusion though. Information about bamboo flooring is readily available and a little information can go a long way to making a decision. If it’s time for a new floor, do you have all the information you need about bamboo flooring? What follows are some common questions with some quick and hopefully useful answers about bamboo flooring. 

The 5 Important Questions About Bamboo Floors

1: How is Bamboo Flooring Made? 

A: Unlike hardwood flooring, which is strips of wood, bamboo flooring is a composite floor. Since bamboo is actually a type of grass which grows to gigantic sizes, it needs to be processed in order to actually fit a floor. The bamboo is taken, sliced and then shredded. From there, it’s pressed together under enormous heat and with glue to form the floor boards. 

2: What Will It Look Like? 

A: Some people consider bamboo flooring to be truly beautiful. When it’s used in a vertical pattern, it has a lovely striped look. There’s also a horizontal pattern version that gives the grain an interesting style. Some people refer to it as “knuckles”. The most difficult to make (and most expensive) is known as strand woven bamboo flooring. In this case, the fibers have been interwoven into patterns, providing extra strength and some beautiful appearances. 

3: What Does it Cost? 

A: Like most flooring, bamboo flooring is priced out by the square foot. Most bamboo flooring will run somewhere in the range between $5 and $8 per square foot. This is about the same as most hardwood floors cost, so there’s no real disadvantage there. However, it’s important to note that bamboo flooring is nailed or glued to the subfloor, whereas that’s not always the case with hardwood. This can increase costs and makes installation better when completed by a professional. Typically professional rates can increase the cost between $3 and $6 per square foot for their installation. 

4: What Are the Benefits of Bamboo flooring? 

A: Typically, bamboo flooring is pretty great. It looks good and it comes from bamboo, which is a sustainable resource. Bamboo flooring is natural with modern decorating ideas. High quality bamboo floors can be incredibly durable. Another benefit is that as long as it has adequate thickness, a bamboo floor can be refinished. This means you won’t necessarily need to replace it right away if something goes wrong. 

5: Are There Disadvantages to Bamboo Flooring? 

A: As mentioned earlier, bamboo is a sustainable resource, which is good. However, much of it is grown in areas of the world with lax production standards. This often increases the carbon footprint of bamboo flooring quite a bit. Also, another benefit mentioned was durability. However, that benefit did specifically mention when it’s found in high quality flooring. Lesser quality bamboo flooring is more prone to dings, scratches and bruising. The final downside is that bamboo absorbs water. This means that in cases of floods or water pooling, it can become damaged. This can even be true in homes that merely run at a high humidity most of the time. In these cases, a dehumidifier placed in a room can protect the flooring and provide better balance to the air.